Rajasthan continued their winning streak in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a convincing 24-run victory over Hyderabad in their third-round Group ‘A’ clash at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday.
Hyderabad Falls Short Despite Late Fightback
Chasing a target of 188 runs, Hyderabad struggled to keep pace with the required run rate, despite late heroics from Tanay Thyagarajan and Prateek Reddy. The duo started a counterattack in the 15th over and seemed to be gaining momentum, with both players targeting Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s pace, particularly enjoying shots behind square and pulling the ball for boundaries.
However, it was Deepak Chahar who turned the tide for Rajasthan, cleaning up Prateek Reddy with a yorker in the penultimate over. From there, Hyderabad’s chase faltered, with the target proving too steep for Thyagarajan to carry the team to victory.
Key Moments in Hyderabad’s Chase:
- Tanay Thyagarajan and Prateek Reddy: Their partnership in the 15th over brought some hope to Hyderabad’s chase, but Reddy’s dismissal by Chahar turned the match in Rajasthan’s favor.
- Early wickets: Hyderabad lost their top order quickly, with Aniket Choudhary striking early to dismiss Rahul Singh and Tilak Varma.
- Tanmay Agarwal’s Six: Tanmay started aggressively with a six in the first over, but the loss of wickets soon after put Hyderabad on the back foot.
Hyderabad’s Batting Collapse:
- Hyderabad’s pursuit began with a promising shot from Tanmay Agarwal, but soon the wickets tumbled. Aniket Choudhary’s quick strikes got rid of both openers, and Deepak Hooda’s solid work in the field further sealed Hyderabad’s fate.
- The run-out of Mickil Jaiswal, following a miscommunication with Rahul Buddhi, added to the misfortune, and Hyderabad found themselves at 163/8, ultimately falling short of the target.
Rajasthan’s Strong Batting Performance
Earlier in the game, Rajasthan opted to bat first but had a slow start, losing both openers, Abhijeet Tomar and Bharat Sharma, during the PowerPlay. With just 39 runs on the board in the first six overs, Rajasthan’s innings seemed to be heading in a precarious direction.
However, the middle overs saw a solid partnership between Kartik Sharma and Deepak Hooda, who put together a vital 97-run stand for the third wicket. Kartik Sharma, in particular, was in sublime form, lofting the ball over the field with ease, hitting boundaries regularly, and reaching his half-century in just 23 balls.
Key Contributions in Rajasthan’s Innings:
- Kartik Sharma’s Aggression: His explosive batting and quick-fire 50 off 23 balls provided Rajasthan with the momentum they needed.
- Deepak Hooda’s Steady Support: Hooda’s 46 off 30 balls complemented Sharma’s attacking approach, adding crucial runs in the middle phase of the innings.
- Zubair Ali Khan’s Finishing Touch: A quickfire 31 off 20 balls towards the end of the innings gave Rajasthan the final push, setting a challenging target of 188 for Hyderabad.
Match Summary and Final Result
- Rajasthan: 187/5 (20 overs)
- Hyderabad: 163/8 (20 overs)
Rajasthan emerged victorious by 24 runs, extending their unbeaten streak in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while Hyderabad will be left to rue their missed opportunities and inconsistency with the bat.
Tables: Key Stats
| Player | Runs | Balls Faced | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kartik Sharma (Rajasthan) | 50 | 23 | 7 | 2 |
| Deepak Hooda (Rajasthan) | 46 | 30 | 4 | 2 |
| Tanay Thyagarajan (Hyderabad) | 28 | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| Prateek Reddy (Hyderabad) | 20 | 15 | 2 | 1 |
Key Takeaways:
- Rajasthan’s well-balanced performance with both bat and ball was the key to their victory.
- Hyderabad’s late fightback from Tanay Thyagarajan and Prateek Reddy was not enough to overhaul Rajasthan’s score.
- Rajasthan’s middle-order, led by Kartik Sharma, provided the much-needed acceleration after a slow start.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
With this victory, Rajasthan continues their surge in the group stages of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures. On the other hand, Hyderabad will need to regroup quickly, focusing on better execution with both bat and ball to turn their fortunes around in the tournament.